Collapsible tube apparatus



0a. 1o, 1939; J.- H. FRIDEN 2,175,560

l COLLAPSIBL TUBE APPARATUS Y File Dec. 2s, 1955 7 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY oct. 1o, i939.

J. H. FRIDEN CLLAPSIBLE TUBE APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet .5

Filed Dec. 28. 1935 u ATTORNEY Oct. l0, 1939. H FRlDEN 2,175,560

coLLArsILE 'ma APPAnATus Filed Dec. 28,l 1935 7 ysheets-sheet 4 yO 12 /0 Iii F i? l.

`ot.1o,1'939.l 1H. Fame@ 1 A 2,115,56

CQLLAPS IBLB 'ms Armrs Filed Dect. 2e, 1935 "r'sneeta-sneet s l nwENroR:

l' vIc-WATIQRN i Oct. l0, 1939. J. H. FRIDEN 2,175,560

coLLAP1BLE TUBE APPARATUs Filed Deo. 28, 1935 Y 7 sheets-sheet 1' gg Nv N INVENTOR- N- Joh/Wada l PatentedOct. 10,1939

. uNlTEDfsTATas 2,173.5 l coLLarsrLn TUBE APPARATUS John H. Fridn, -MapiewoocL N. J.,

The Sun Tube Corporation,

assigner to Hillside, N. J., a

. v rThis invention relates to apparatus for automatically handling collapsible tubes and performing one or more ilnishing operations thereon. In

a typical embodiment of the invention, vdevices g are provided for conveying a continuous series of tubes, removing the tubes successively from the conveyor, applying the tubes successively to the spindles of a tube finishing machine, and performing one or more functions, such as a coating )0; operation, upon -each tube as lit is moved past a predetermined position. Means may also be included, if desired, for removing thetubes from the spindles.

It has been a primary object ofthe 'invention L5J to provide simple and eiiective means for accompushing the results stated with a minimum of injury to the tubes in the` handling of a large number of the same. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the de- 'ay tailed description of the illustrativeembodiments of the same which will now be given in' conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is 'a front elevation of-a portion of the apparatus, showing the tube handling and coating devices and schematically showing the conveyor 'for delivering the tubes .to be handled by the apparatus.

, Figure 2 is a plan view of the improved apparatus..l 36;: Figure-3 is a side elevation of the apparatus. f

Figure 4 isan'enlarged detail, partly in eleva- .tion and partly in section alongthe line of Figure 3; showing a portlon'of the conveyor and a portion of. the tube removing means.

: Figure 5 isan enlarged detail, partly in elevation andpartly in section, along the line l--l of Figure -1, Vshowing a portion of the tube han dlin'gdevices.

f Pigure 6 is an enlarged detail showing certain lcontrol devices and a pneumatic cylinder, 'partly `broken away, used in applying the tubes to the spindleathe cylinder beingfturned through an angle of 90'from its-'operating position to better illustrate theconstruction.

Figure 71sa. side view of the para snownin Iiigure6,thecylinderbeingomit Y Figure 8 is a detail in section along ythe line I-l of Figure '1. v .Figure 9 is a sectional viewalong the line l-I of Maure, 8.

Figure 10 isa face view of an element forming .part-of apneumatic control valve.

l'lgurell is a-rear elevationfof the-lower por-v .tion ofthe apparatus. showing the driving means' showing a modiiied arrangement for applying'the tubes to the spindles. Figure 12 isa side elevation of the apparatus, showing the modiiled construction, and

Figure 131s a detail vlew'in section along the 5 linegiI-,Il of Figure12. I Referring now to the drawings, the tubes III to be handled by the improved devices are conveyed to the desired point by means of a chain Il, indicated bya dot and dash line in Figure 1. 10.: This chainis provided with a series of pins l2v at spaced points and is carried around a series of sprockets. Il, Il, J5, I6 and Il, mounted in suitable bearings on the frame Il. It will be understood that, the chain travels to and from l5 any convenient point' in the tube manufacturing plant and may be advanced either continuously or intermittently, asdesired. In a typical in stallation the downwardly moving portion of the chainat the left end of Figure 1 may be aszo sumed to come from a drying chamber of the type disclosed in my application Serial No. 11,283 filed on March 15, 1935. It may be assumed that the tubescarried by the chain havepreviously been coated and lithographed and are now pre- 25` pared to receive a nalcoating of lacquer or the like. After passing around the pulley I1 the chain ispassed through another drying zone to a suitable packing station and back to the starting point, as is more fully explained in my prior so;

The speciilcv form of the chain is not material to the' present invention so long as it is adapted to carry the pins I2, or similar tube supports,

at suitably spaced intervals. A small section of a suitable chain is shown in Figure 4, the tube supporting pins being provided at every third pivot. As indicated in Figure 3, the chain ismade to travel in a plane inclined at a slight,l angle to the vertical so that the pilla DI?? l slight 4o.

upward slant to insure proper retention ofthe tubes. Any convenient means maybeemployed for driving the chain, suitable meansbring' disclosed in the pending` application mentioned.

As the chain is carried around the sprocket '45- l I5, the tubes are successively brought into enf gagement with a belt Il; This belt. as best shown in Figure 3, is carried by three pulleys, Il and 22,.journale d on the frameand is advanoedcon'-, tinuously in the directionindicated. by the ar' 50:' rows on the pulleys. In-pessing from pulley 2i to pulley 22, it is supported by a member 28 carriedby portions 24 and Il oftheframe Thesupport 28 is-inclined upwardly from pulley al .t thermale nt. the um n ma in aiinameosjs transversely at a slight angle as shown in Figure 4. For the purpose of shifting the belt there may be provided a motor 26 operating, through any suitable speed reducer, upon the pulley 20. The motor shaft may, for example, carry a worm 21 cooperating with a worm wheel 28 in fixed relation to the pulley 28.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that as the conveyor chain passes downwardly around the sprocket |5, the tubes ||I will be brought successively into engagement with the belt I9. As

soon as a sufficient engagement is effected, to`create a greater friction between the belt and the tube than exists between the tube and the supporting pin I2, the tube will be picked up by the belt and removed from the pin. uring the -removal of the tube the chain will continue to advance a slight distance, thus insuring the location of the tube well onto the upper surface of the belt before it leaves the pin. The slight transverse pitch of the belt, as shown in Figure 4, furthermore, assists in producing a slight lateral movement of the tube toward the center of the belt as it is being carried forwardly by the latter.

As' best shown in Figures 2 and 5, thetube is carried by the belt between a pair of guide rails 28 'and '38, the rail 28 extending transversely across the belt and then for some distance parallel with the edge of the belt. The outer end of this rail, furthermore, is bent outwardly to-a slight extent to produce a camming effect upon the advancing tube, if this should be necessary. By the time the tube reaches the position in line with the passageway formed by the parallel portions of the guide rails extending at right angles to the direction of movement of the belt, it will be ready to roll off the edge of the belt onto a fixed incline 3|. Should the tube not be discharged naturally, by its own rolling action in this manner, the guide 29 will, of course, assist in discharging the tube from the belt. At the center of the incline 3| there is provided an elongated opening 32 beneath which there is mounted a pair of chains 33. 'I'hese chains carry series of pins 34 suitably spaced'to allow a tube to fall' between successive pairs. At the lower end of the incline 3| there is arranged a V-shaped trough 35 into which the tubes are dropped one at a time by gravity as they are carried forwardly in appropriately spaced relation under the control of the pins 34. The trough 35 is so mounted on a led portion of the frame that the axis of the tube therein will be held directly in line with one of a series of spindles 35 carried by a rotatable head 31 secured to a shaft 38. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, the head 31 is given a stepbystep movement to carry the` spindles 36 successively into the position in line with the trough 35. Preferably the spindles are rotatably mounted on the head 31 so that they may turn freely during the coating operation, to be later described, although if desired they may be flxed and the tubes simply allowed to slip freely around the spindles.

For the purpose of transferring the tubes from the trough 35 to the alined spindles 36, there is provided a pusher rod 38 carried by an arm 40. Preferably a yielding connection is provided between the rod 35 and the supporting arm, although this is not essential. As illustrated, the yielding connection may be provided by a sliding tit between the rod and arm 4l and by the provision of collars 4| and 42 on the rod, together with a spring A43 acting between the arm 48 and the collar 42. 'Ihis spring normally holds the stub shaft 61.

collar 4| against the arm but may yield when some unusual resistance is met with so as tov prevent `damage being. done to the machine, or possibly to the tube. The arm is secured to a rod 44, which may able manner. Two different arrangements for accomplishing this result willbe explained more fully hereinafter. The lower end of arm 48 is slidably mounted on a guide rod 44| carried by a pair of fixed brackets on the` machine frame. If the tubes to 'be handled by the machine are closed at their outer ends, some provision should be made for the escape of air which would otherwise be entrapped in the application of the tubes to the spindles. For this purpose the spindles tively easy escape of air or they may have passages through them in free communication with the outside.

After a tube has been applied tof-l one of the spindles 36, in the manner explained, the head 31 will be rotated one step to carry the next spindle into line with the trough to receive another tube. This rotation is counter-clockwise, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby carrying the tubes downwardly and toward the right in this figure. On the fourthstep of movement each tube is carried into engagement with a roller 45, having a soft, yielding outer surface and adapted to apply a coating of any suitable character to the outer surface of the tube. In the typical'installation suggest above, the coating substance may be in the nature of a thin, colorless lacquer, which is-applied to a previously coated and lithographed tube. To apply the coating, the roller '45 is rotated by the turning ,of its supporting shaft 45, in a manner to be explained. Roller 45 receives its coating material from a roller 41 carried by a shaft 48, which roller is in turnengaged with a roller 49 carried by a shaft 50 and adapted to travel through-a bath of the coating substance maintained in a suitable pan or trough 5|. Suitable means are provided for driving allof the rollers, as will be later explained.

Turning now to Figure 3, the driving connections for operating the various portions of the machine, other than the conveyor` chain and the belt I9, will be explained. A suitable motor 52 may be provided as the source of power, the shaft of this motor carrying a pinion 53 meshing with a large gear 54 on a shaft 55. A small pinion 56`on this shaft engages a large gear 51 on a shaft 58. A considerable speed reduction is effected through this gearing. At the rear end of the shaft 58 suitable gearing 59 is provided to connect the same with a gear secured to a shaft 5|. 'I'his shaft has secured thereto an arm 52 carrying a roller 63 yforming the driving element of .a Geneva mechanism for rotating the shaft 38. For this purpose a Geneva wheel 54 a secured to the shaft 38 is provided in the plane of the roller G3 and a locking disc 55 is secured to the shaft 5| in the same plane. Through this Geneva mechanism the shaft 38 is given one step of movement upon each revolution of the shaft e,

5|. In the machine illustrated nine such steps of movement are required to make one revolution of the shaft 38.

At another point on the shaft 5| there is secured a sprocket arranged to drive a chain I8, V7

which in turn drives a sprocket secured to a The opposite end of this stub shaft is connected by means of a chain 58 with a shaft 58 so that the latteris continuously rotated during the operation of the machine. The 1 be reciprocated in any suit- 5 15 may either be suitably tapered to allow the rela- 1 connected at 8| to an arm 82.

v 2,175,560 size of the various sprockets cooperating with thel chains 66 and 68 is such that a slight reduction in the speed of rotation of the shaft .69 with relation to the shaft 8| is effected. Shaft 69 is connected by va universal coupling 18 with a `shaft 1|, which in turn is connected through a universal coupling 12 with a shaft 13.A The latter has secured thereto suitable sprockets for operating the chains 83 to advance the pins 34 at a desired speed. u

'I'he coating mechanism isl driven by a connection from the shaft, 58 comprising a chain 14 cooperating with a sprocket secured to the shaft 58 and another sprocket secured to the shaft 48. 'Iltis causes rotation of the roller 45 while the otheilirollers are driven-through gearing 15, 18 and 1. v i

For the purpose of operating the push rod-39, to apply tubes to the spindles 36, two different arrangements are disclosed. The-first of these is illustratedin Figures 6 to 10 and includes a cam 18 which operates upon a roller 19 carried by a link 88 having anelongated slot that straddles the shaft 8|. The lower end of the link `88 is pivotally T'he length of the link 88 may be made adjustable by the provision of a right and lefthand, threaded member 83 joining two separable portions of the link. One end of the arm 82 is attached to a flat-sided portion 84 of a rotatable stud 85. The end of the arm 82 may be bifurcated for this purpose and a bolt 86 provided to clamp the bifurcations upon the portion 84. A spring 828 connected between a portion ofthe arm l2 and a xed Point (not shown) on the frame tends to hold the arm inthe position shown 'in Figure 6, with the roller 19 against the periphery of the cam 18.

At the inner end of the stud 85 there is arranged a bronze disc 81 adapted to be turned by the stud. A spring 88 ccacting between the-disc 81 and a portion of the valve casing 89 holds the disc against the. surface of another portion 98 of the valve casing. Disc'81 is provided with two holes or ports 9| and 92 which extend completely through the same and with an elongated depression or recess 93 in the face that cooperates with member 98. Within the member 89 an air chamber 94 is provided and this is placed in communication with a source of air under pressure through a pipe 95. Member 98 has a passage 96, which is open to the atmosphere and thus provides an exhaust passage, as will be explained. The upper end of the passage 96 is turned at right angles, as indicated at 91, and extends to the inner face of the member 98 to cooperate with the recess 93. A passage 98 extending from the inner faceof member 98 to the top of the same communicateswith a pipe 99 while a similar passage |88 communicates with a pipe |8|. The= pipes 99 and |8| communicate with opposite ends of a cylinder |82 havingtherein pistons |83 connected with the previously mentioned rod 44.

The operation of the pneumatic system thus explained is as follows: In the normal position of the parts as shown, air under pressure entering the valve through the pipe 95 is in communication with the pipe 99 through the port 92 of disc 81. This air under pressure has acted upon the piston |83'to force ,it toward the right in Figure 6 and serves to maintain it in this position, in which the rod 39 is retracted, as shown in Figure -2. `At the same time the righthand end of the cylinder is in communication with the exhaust port 96 through pipe ill, passage |88 and recess 98. When the cam the arm82 into the position indicated by the dot and dash line (Fig.'6) and thus places the pipe |8| in communication with the air under pressure in chamber 94 and places the pipe 99 in communication with the exhaust port 96.- This will. of course, cause the piston |83 to move toward the left (Fig. 6) and will cause the rod 39 to push the' tube from the trough 35 onto the alined spindle. As the cam 18 continues its'movement, the roller 19 will be permitted to descend under the action of spring 828 and thus restore the parts to the normal position indicated. n Y

Referring now to Figures 11, 12 and 13, there is illustrated a modified formof mechanism for operating the push rod 89 to transfer the tubes from the trough 35 to the spindles 88. In other respects the construction illustrated in these figures is substantially the same has has been explained. 'I'he driving or operating mechanism is the same except for the substitution of a new train of mechanism for that illustrated in Fig- .ures 6 to 10. In lieu of the cam 18 there is attached to the end of the shaft 6| a bevel gear |84. 'I'his meshes with a bevel gear |85 on a vertically extending shaft |86. At the lower end of the latter there is secured another bevel gear |81 which meshes with a companion bevel gear |88 secured to a horizontally extending shaft |89. The shafts |86 and |89 may be mounted in any suitable bearings carried by the main frame of the machine. At the opposite end of the shaft |89 is provided a cam I8 whose peripherylis engaged by a roller mounted on an arm ||2 pivoted to the frame at ||3. 'I'he upper end of arm ||2 isV connected by a link ||4 with a rod |15 which in turn is connected with the arm 48 in the same way as the rod 44 of the rst embodiment.

For the purpose of rocking the arm |2 counterclockwise (Fig. 12) and retaining the roller in engagement with the cam ||8, a spring |6 is provided. This spring at its lower end acts upon a block ||1 pivotally carried by a bracket ||8`v 'I'he upper end secured to the machine frame. of the spring acts upon a member ||9 connected to the pivot pin of a pair of toggle links |28 and |2|. Link |28 is pivotally attached to the arm ||2 at |22 while linkA |2| is pivotally attached at |23 to a bracket |24 secured to the machine frame. Member ||9 preferably has a rod |25 extending downwardly therefrom centrally within the spring ||8 the spring.- Therefore, as the spring becomes extended, assuming it to be a compression spring, the force which it exerts rapidly diminishes. With the present arrangement, on the other hand, the mechanical advantage of the toggle linkage, as the two links approach a straight line, is such that the diminshed force of the spring will be greatly amplied in acting upon the arm ||2. Ifj desired, the arrangement may be such that a greater force is exerted upon the arm ||2 when the spring is extended into the dotted-line position than when it is compressed into its full-line position. Or, if desired, the arrangement may be such that a substantially uniform force may be applied to the arm H2 throughout the operation of the spring. If the tube is to be mounted on a spindle, having a tip intended to bite into the metal of the neck of the tubey it is usually desirable to impart a somewhat greater force to the pusher element at the end of its stroke than at the beginning. By adjusting the nal position to which the toggle links |20 and I2l willvbe forced by the spring, the amount of pressure exerted against the arm l I2 at different points in the operation may be varied to suit the particular requirements.

The operation of the apparatus as a whole is believed to be clear from the foregoing detailed description` However, a brief resume will now be given.

Tubes I0 are continually being brought into the path of movement of the upper course of belt I9 by means of the chain Il. As a tube is carried onto the belt it will be withdrawn from the supporting pin and carried between the guides 2S and 30. It will then roll or be forced down to the incline 3l where each tube is lodged between.

successive pairs of pins 3l. At the lower end of the incline the tube is deposited in the trough 35. Here it is engaged by the push rod 39 which forces it onto one of the spindles 36. These spindles are given a step-by-step movement in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. l) through the action of the Genevalmechanism on the shaft 38. On the fourth step of movement the tube is carried intoY cooperation with a coacting roller 45 which applies a finishing coat to the surface of the tube. Other operations might be performed upon the tube while supported on the spindle either in lieu of or in addition to the coating operation mentioned. As the spindle is carried upwardly from the coating roller, the coated tube Ais removed either by hand or automatically and may be applied tov one of the empty pins on the chain If or may be transferred to another conveyor for a final drying treatment.

While certain illustrative embodiments of the invention have beenI explained in considerable detail, it will be understood that numerous variations may be made without departing from the general principles and scope of the invention. Various portions of the combined structure, though particularly suited for the special combination illustrated, are capable of broader application. The terms and expressions employed herein are to be considered as terms of de scription and not of limitation.

What I claimis:

1. In apparatus for handling delicate. collapsible tubular members a conveyor chain arranged to be advanced, lmeans on said chain for supporting said tubular members. and a continuously driven belt having a substantially smooth surface arranged to frictionally engage said members and to cooperate with said supporting means to produce relative vertical movement between said members and the supporting means for re'- moving said members from said supporting means in a direction transverse to the direction of -advanceof the conveyor chain.

2. In apparatus for handling delicate, collapsible tubular members an endless conveyor arranged to be advanced continuously, means on said conveyor for freely supporting tubular members, an endless belt in the path of movement of members on said supporting means and having a substantially smoothsurface arranged to frictionaliy engage said members and to cooperate with said supporting means to produce relative vertical movement between said members and the supporting means, and means for shifting said belt while engaged by said members for removing the latter from said supporting means in a direction transverse to the direction of advance of the conveyor chain.

3. In 'apparatus for handling delicate, collapsible tubular members an endless conveyor arranged to be continuously advanced, means on said conveyor for freely supporting tubular members, an endless belt in the path of movement of members on said supporting means and having a substantially smooth surface arranged to frictionally engage said members and to cooperate with said supporting means to produce relative vertical movement between said members and the supporting means, and means for continuously shifting said belt independently of the advance of said conveyor.

4. In apparatus for handling delicate, collapsible tubular members an endless conveyor, a series of pins on said conveyor for loosely supporting tubular members, and a. member having a continuously Vadvancing substantially smooth surface in the path of movement of said tubular members arranged to frictionally engage said members and to cooperate with said supporting pins to produce relative vertical movement between said members and the supporting pins for removing the latter from said pins in a direction substantially parallel thereto.

5. In apparatus of the class described an endlless conveyor, a series of pins on said conveyor less conveyor, a series of pins on said conveyor inclinedupwardly at a small angle to the horizontal for loosely supporting tubular members, and means for frictionally engaging said members and movable therewith longitudinally of the pins to remove the -members from the pins, said last named means including a friction surface inclined at a small angle to the horizontalin a direction transverse to said pins.

7. In apparatus for handling delicate, collapsible tubular members an endless conveyor ar- Iranged to be continuously advanced, a series of pins on' said conveyor for loosely supporting tubular members, and. means having a substantially smooth surface for frictionally engaging said members.as they are being advanced by said conveyor, said conveyor and frictionally engaging means arranged to produce relative vertical movement between'said members and said pins, and said last named means shifting longitudinally relative to said pins to remove the members therefrom.

8. In apparatus for handling collapsible tubes a plurality of conveying means each having a series of projections adapted to extendl into and support said tubes, one of said conveying means being moved continuously and the other intermittently, and means for automatically transferring the tubes from the projections of one of said conveying means to the projections of the other of said conveying means, said transferring means including a continuously operating endu 2,175,560 less member having a substantially mnootn surface arranged below the path of movement' of said projections for removing the tubes from said one of said conveying means and carrying the tubes thereon.

9. In apparatus for handling collapsible tubes a plurality of conveying means each having a series of projections adapted to extend into and support said tubes, and means for automatically transferring the tubes from the projections ofV one oi said conveying means to the projections of the other of said conveying means, said last mentioned means including a continuously moving belt having a substantially smooth surface arranged below the path of movement of said projections for removing the tubes fromone of said conveying means and carrying the tubes thereon.

10. In apparatus for handlingcollapsible tubes a plurality o f tube supporting elements extending substantially horizontally and adapted to enter said tubes. said elements being arranged in two separate series, means'for shifting the elements of one series continuously, means for shifting the elements of the other series intermittently, means including a continuously operated endless'member having a substantially smooth surface arranged below the path of movement of an element in one series for withdrawing a tube from said element and carrying the tube thereon,

means for conveying said tube to a position in line with an element in the other series, said withdrawing means constituting at least a part of said conveying means, and means for applying saidl tube to said element of said other series.

y 11. Inapparatus of the class described a spinl. dle, means for supporting -a tubular member .inV

line with said spindle, means for transferring a 'tubular member from said supporting means to said spindle, and means for operating saidtransferring means, said operating means including a springfand a toggle linkage exerting its endwise pressure upon said transferring means under the iniluence of said spring.

l2. In apparatus of the class described a 'spindle, means for supporting a vtubular member in line with said spindle, means for transferring a tubular member from said supporting means to said spindle, and yielding means for operating said transferring means with a substantially uniform application of force, said means comprising a spring and toggle linkage, which, .when extended ls substantially parallel with the direction of movement of said transferring means. i

13. In apparatus of the class described a rotatable head, a plurality of spindles carried by said head, a shaft, means thereon for intermittently rotating said head, means for applying tubular vmembers to said spindles, and means on saidv shaft for controlling the operation of said last mentioned means to apply a tubular member to one of said spindles during the period of rest between rotating movements of said head, said applying means comprising a reciprocatory push rod and means comprising a spring and toggle linkage operated thereby for applying a substantially uniform force thereto throughout its effective stroke, said toggle linkage being arranged to transmit its end-wise pressure to said pushrod. a Y

i 14. In apparatus of the class described a continuously moving conveyor having pins arranged at an angle to the horizontal to receive and retain tubular members, an intermittently rotatable head having horizontallyv disposed mandrels adapted to receive and support said members,

said pins operating continuously in one direcmeans arranged below the path of movement of said pins operating continuously in one direction at an angle to the path of movement of said pins and having a substantially smooth surface for-engaging and removing said membersdrom 5 said pins as they arrive at a predetermined position, means for delivering said members to a position .in line with a mandrel on said head, said removingmeans constituting at least a part of said delivery means, and reciprocating means for transferring said members from. said last mentioned position to said mandrels on said head.

l5. In apparatus of the class described a continuously moving conveyor having pins arranged g at an angleto the horizontal to receive and retain tubular members, an intermittently rotatable head having horizontally disposed mandrels adapted to receive and support said members,

engaging and removing said members from said pins as they arrive at a predetermined position, means for delivering said members to a position e in line with a mandrel on said head, said removing means constituting at least a part of said delivery means, and reciprocating means forl transferring said members from said, last mentioned position to said mandrels on said head, said continuously operating means and said reciprocating means being driven from independent sources.

16. In apparatus oi' the class described a continuously moving conveyor having pins arranged sat' an angle to the horizontal to receive and re tain tubular members, an intermittently rotatable head having horizontallydisposed-mandrels adapted to receive and support said members. Y means arranged below the path of movement of 40 tion at an angle to the path of movement of said A pins and having a substantially smooth surface for engaging and removing said members from. said pins as they arrive at a predetermined position, means for delivering said members to a position in line with a mandrel on said head, said removing means constituting at least a part of said delivery means, reciprocating means for transferring said members from said last mentioned position to the mandrels on said head, common means for intermittently rotating said head and operating said reciprocating means, and independent operating means for driving said continuously operating means.

17. In apparatus of the class described a continuously moving conveyor having pins arranged to receive and retain delicate, collapsible tubular ,members a rotatable head, a series of mandrels on said head, an operating shaft, means on said -shaft for intermittently rotating said head, continuously advancing means arranged below the path of movement of said pins and having a substantially smooth surface for engaging and removing said members from sai'd conveyor as they arrive at a predetermined position, means for delivering said members to a position in line with a mandrel on said head, said removing means constituting at least a part of said delivering means, and reciprocating means controlled by said shaft for transferring one of said members from said last mentioned position to a mandrel on said head While the latter is at rest.

18. In apparatus of the class described a continuously moving conveyor having pins arranged to receive and retain delicate. collapsible tubular 'lo members, a rotatable head. a series of mandrels -1 conveying said members inspaced relation and y delivering said members -singly to a position in n l line with a mandrel on said head, said removing means constituting a part of said conveying and delivering means, and reciprocating means controlled by said shaft for transferring said membersfrom said last mentioned positionto a mandrel on said head while the latter is at rest.

JOHN H. FRIDN. 

